Social Media Policies for Dentists

Why You Should Have a Social Media Policy

If you put in place a carefully drafted social media policy for your dental practice, your employees will likely have a better understanding of what’s permitted and what is prohibited, which may help avoid legal problems down the road. Regulating what and when you post is vital for getting the most value out of your social media outreach.

The same rules regarding discrimination, privacy or employment policies that apply in the “real world” also apply to the online (social media) world.

The trend is to favor free speech and open discourse. Indeed, policies which can be construed to prohibit employees from discussing with each other the terms and conditions of employment are illegal under the National Labor Relations Act. Accordingly, take care to avoid creating policies or making employment decisions that might discourage legally permissible discussions regarding working conditions, hours and wages.

Social Media Law is an evolving field; what is written here will likely change dramatically, so keep abreast of the latest developments.

A few tips to get started

Avoid creating an overly broad policy that could be interpreted to prohibit comments related to working conditions, hours and wages.

Establish limitations on expectations of privacy (employer monitoring public social media comments, right to access company computers/electronic communications).